This learning brief will discuss the history of various policies that were enacted through the 1960’s until the 1980’s with regards to mental illness. The brief will discuss the factors that lead to the 1970’s deinstitutionalization movement for persons experiencing mental illness. It will also discuss both the advantages and consequences of deinstitutionalization. The brief will conclude with a discussion on issues that are important for social workers to consider today.
In 1963, the Community Mental Health Centers Act was passed by John F. Kennedy which provided funding for the creation of community mental health centers (CMHCs) (Grob, 1995). CMHCs were created in hopes of assisting with the detection of early indicators of mental illness, …show more content…
Some consequences included a lack of cohesiveness among community agencies in terms of treatment for individuals. Some communities lacked resources and funding. Several of these communities were unable to treat the huge volume of individuals released from hospitals (Lamb, Weinberger, & Gross, 2004). Other community resources did not offer the right treatment for individuals with dual diagnosis. After being released in the community, many individuals had trouble obtaining treatment (Lamb, Weinberger, & Gross, 2004). Others had an absence of any community support such as family members when they were released from hospitals (Lamb, Weinberger, & Gross, 2004). These individuals were left to take care of themselves with no help. If they did have family support, those families had to instantly take care of individuals that were recently released from hospitals. These families often did not have knowledge or funding to take of care of the …show more content…
If community treatment was available and used, some individuals were able to live self-sufficiently in the community (Lamb & Bachrach, 2001). These individuals felt a sense of normalization (Lamb & Bachrach, 2001). Some were able to obtain employment and were able to provide for themselves without assistance (Lamb & Bachrach, 2001). Care from community treatment was often better and individuals felt pleasure with their living conditions (Lamb & Bachrach, 2001). Individuals were able to live out in the community rather than locked up in a facility. Community treatment provided support for the individuals which made it easier on the individual especially if they did not have family
In 1963, the Community Mental Health Centers Act was passed by John F. Kennedy which provided funding for the creation of community mental health centers (CMHCs) (Grob, 1995). CMHCs were created in hopes of assisting with the detection of early indicators of mental illness, …show more content…
Some consequences included a lack of cohesiveness among community agencies in terms of treatment for individuals. Some communities lacked resources and funding. Several of these communities were unable to treat the huge volume of individuals released from hospitals (Lamb, Weinberger, & Gross, 2004). Other community resources did not offer the right treatment for individuals with dual diagnosis. After being released in the community, many individuals had trouble obtaining treatment (Lamb, Weinberger, & Gross, 2004). Others had an absence of any community support such as family members when they were released from hospitals (Lamb, Weinberger, & Gross, 2004). These individuals were left to take care of themselves with no help. If they did have family support, those families had to instantly take care of individuals that were recently released from hospitals. These families often did not have knowledge or funding to take of care of the …show more content…
If community treatment was available and used, some individuals were able to live self-sufficiently in the community (Lamb & Bachrach, 2001). These individuals felt a sense of normalization (Lamb & Bachrach, 2001). Some were able to obtain employment and were able to provide for themselves without assistance (Lamb & Bachrach, 2001). Care from community treatment was often better and individuals felt pleasure with their living conditions (Lamb & Bachrach, 2001). Individuals were able to live out in the community rather than locked up in a facility. Community treatment provided support for the individuals which made it easier on the individual especially if they did not have family